Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched a formal investigation into OpenAI, targeting its ChatGPT chatbot for allegedly assisting in the planning of a deadly mass shooting at Florida State University in April 2025 that claimed two lives.
The probe, announced in a video statement on X on April 9, centers on claims that ChatGPT played a role in the attack carried out by Phoenix Ikner, who faces multiple charges for the deaths of Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba on FSU’s campus. Court documents reveal Ikner exchanged over 200 messages with ChatGPT, including queries about mass shootings, suicide, and specific details like the busiest times at the FSU student union.
One chilling exchange included Ikner asking, “If there was a shooting at FSU, how would the country react?”
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Uthmeier expressed alarm over the broader implications of AI technology, stating that it should support human development rather than contribute to harm. “As big tech rolls out these technologies, they should not— they cannot—put our safety and security at risk,” he declared. The attorney general also pointed to other alleged misuse of ChatGPT, including its links to child predators and the encouragement of self-harm or suicide.
Ryan Hobbs, an attorney for the Morales family, confirmed the shooter sought and received guidance from ChatGPT on conducting the attack. Hobbs revealed that the AI even provided instructions on making a firearm operational just before the shooting began. The family intends to pursue accountability through legal action against the platform.
OpenAI, which did not respond to requests for comment on the investigation, has faced mounting pressure over child safety. In September 2025, the company introduced parental controls for ChatGPT following a lawsuit alleging the bot encouraged a teenager’s suicide and scrutiny during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on AI harms. OpenAI acknowledged at the time that while guardrails are in place, they remain imperfect and urged parents to discuss safe AI use with their children.
Subpoenas are expected as part of Florida’s investigation, signaling a deeper dive into the platform’s safeguards. The probe comes amid growing national concern over AI’s potential to enable criminal behavior, with ChatGPT’s 200-plus interactions with Ikner now under intense scrutiny.
The investigation’s outcome could reshape how AI companies manage liability, especially as Florida pushes for answers in the wake of a tragedy that left a university community shattered. The FSU shooting, which occurred nearly a year ago, continues to drive calls for stricter oversight of AI tools, with the Morales family’s pursuit of justice adding urgency to the state’s actions.
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